Hello beautiful people,
As you may have noticed I decided to stick with my world race blog, for a few different reasons. I want to thank you for your continued support in this wild adventure with God and for reading about all the things that He is doing and teaching me along the way. I hope and pray that my blogs continue to encourage, inspire and spur you on to allow God to do incredibly GREAT-ER things through you for Him.
I felt like I had lost my sense of wonder since coming back home from the race and having explored so many countries and met such wonderful people. I became a hermit, I didn’t want to go anywhere or do anything but retreat to my bedroom with anxiety about this new season of loneliness living without community. My friends who know me would probably have laughed at how awkward I was when engaging with new people I would meet [when I attempted to attend church] and wonder what happened with Adrian. It was weird. It has gotten better and I feel more like me now…but, I had felt like I lost my sense of wonder along the way of this transition period. Time has been flying by and my purpose has seemed to feel like a mirage.
So I decided to take a road trip to visit 5 states [Akansas, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida] 4 that I have never been to and to go all by myself. I know, a parents dream for their young almost 28-year-old daughter [well, 28 today-finally posting this]. I arrived in New Orleans on Wednesday, and what was supposed to be a fun day and a bucket list check off was much more than that. It was a day that I will never forget for the burden I now carry is forever etched in my heart.
As I walked around the streets of New Orleans to do the “touristy” things, I got a lot more than I bargained for. Instead of the fun day that I had planned, I was overwhelmed with so much pain in my heart that I couldn’t enjoy myself. Every step I took I could feel the weight of the spiritual darkness surrounding me, fighting to hold back tears that would be uncontrollable if I allowed even one tear to shed. The smell of the city was unlike anything I have ever experienced, that includes the thousands of refugees that we witnessed in the streets of France. So many homeless people each one looking as if they are dead, with no hope in their eyes. I passed by these shops with Voodoo dolls, psychics, ghost tours, and witchcraft…each one making me more sick to my stomach then the last.
This rage and pain just burned inside of me, I didn’t know what to do…
Then, I hear the Holy Spirit say to me…
“Remember who you are and what you bring to those around you, they need that”
But still, overwhelmed by the countless of people and the burden that I can’t reach them all by myself…I was shutting down…as I walked into these shops, I was even disgusted at the thought of buying a t-shirt or souvenir to remind me of this awful city that is covered in darkness and lost souls.
With this heaviness on me, I texted my best friend Hillary and was talking to her about it…to which she responded, “Be their Joy, You’re good at that.” Those words were confirmation to what Holy spirit had just whispered to me as truth. So I shifted the weight of the burden into a door of opportunity, to love these people right where they are at even if I am the only one at the moment who will.
The Story of Kim- I saw this person with short blonde hair, baggy jeans and a big white t-shirt covered with brown stains. At first glance and even stumbling through an introduction I thought this was a man, but I found out it was a woman and her name is Kim. I knelt down beside this woman, offering her a beignet because that is all I had in my hand to give, she didn’t accept but reached out to shake my hand. I shook her dirty hand and began to ask her questions about her life. She is from Mississippi, came to New Orleans in a relationship that turned sour and this guy abandoned her there. Now she lives on the streets with no hope of returning home. I was able to share my story and the gospel of Jesus, multiple times she reached out to shake my hand and each time I shook her hand. I could feel each time how dirty they were, but also how “dirty” she felt. With each handshake, I shared more and more truth about the Hope that I found in Jesus hoping that she would experience that same love for herself, that she would no longer see herself as dirty but that God loves her and is willing to kneel beside her, listen to her story and take her hand into his every time.
The Story of Clint- I came up to this young guy and his dog, offering him this beignet that he gladly accepted from me. This guy was tatted up everywhere, including his face. He had an upside down cross on his nose and Pacman tattoos on each side of his cheeks. I asked him what the upside down cross was for, and he shared about how it represents the crucifixion of Peter being unworthy to die the same as his savior Jesus. A perfect door open to share about Jesus, and hear about how Clint came to New Orleans. He shared with me that he is from New York and he came down for Mardi Gras to party and a lot of messed up things happened, so now he is stuck and can’t get back home. Maybe he didn’t make a great decision in coming there and partying but I believe no matter our actions and poor decisions we make, there is hope in Jesus and He can make all things new. I prayed over him despite his dog that tried to attack me…twice. Regardless of what mistakes he made and how he ended up there, I believe in the grace that covers our mistakes and can change whatever current path we are on even when it doesn’t look like there is a way out.
I hope that you who are reading this take this truth to heart, that you are never too dirty for Jesus. You are never too far gone or deep into your mistakes and actions for Jesus. He came to extend grace to us no matter the circumstances from our past, present or future darkness that we may become involved in. Because of the great love for you, he was willing to go through the harshest pain and suffering to bring hope and has the ability to sympathize with you. He sees you, knows you and will never stop fighting for you.
These stories I will never forget, and I will never forget that handshake. I hope and pray that one day I can make an even greater impact in this city with more people to share the gospel and more resources to help people out of their current situation.
Please join me in praying for New Orleans and the darkness that encompasses that city, that Gods power would invade that city and destroy the witchcraft and demonic oppression that resides there. Pray that all the people would be awakened to the truth that Jesus is ALIVE and that they don’t have to live without HOPE.
Also, please pray for Kim, Clint, and Larry (prayed for Larry in Arkansas)
Love always,
A.D.
